How do we really know that animals feel pain as we do when they appear to be suffering?

Question

http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/full/98/10/5937

With the exception of humans, primates, dolphins, elephants, and a few others, most animals do not pass the mirror-recognition test. So if these animals lack "ability to recognize oneself", do they really suffer in the same sense that we do?

(Links would be appreciated)

Answer 1

I wasn't clear how you tied these two issues together. Actually, some animals can pass a "self recongition test". This, however, has nothing to do with pain or suffering.

Any animal with a nervous system can experience pain caused through the nerves. The physiology is the same for these animals as it is for me and you.

All vertebrates have the same physiology. The nerves go through the spine. Any pinching of the nerves can produce numbness or pain if the signals to the brain are interrupted. All of the nerves through our body correspond to the animals body.

A common example would be humans with arthritis and dogs or cats with arthritis. It's the same problem in each species.

Answer 2

I do not see how the mirror recognition test is relevant in any way, unless perhaps you are referring to emotional pain. If you are referring to physical pain then how can you be sure that I feel pain in the same way you do. On an emotional level how can you be sure that we both feel pain in the same way, some people are unable to cope with emotional pain and decide to kill themselves does this mean that only suicidal individuals have felt intense pain or that people simply react differently to pain. As for physical pain dog one may receive an injection with a 18 gauge needle and not even flinch, dog 2 may receive the same injection with the same size needle and scream and try to bite. Did dog 1 not feel pain as dog 2 did?
I like that you read a scholarly paper and are thinking about the world in a more abstract manner but I think that you are a little off basis here, but I certainly could be wrong. Keep thinking outside the box!

Answer 3

They may not feel it just like humans do but you know they are in pain. Ever watch a mother animal give birth. She will rock and whine or make noises under her breath. Mother cats will purr stressfully with each contraction because they are hurting her. Every living being has nerves. Nerves are what transport pain signals to the brain. So yes, they hurt and they suffer when they are sick and injurred both. Step on an animals tail and they will shreek out. Beat an animal and they will scream out in pain. When you see a horse fall and break its leg, the animal is in so much pain it cries and they shoot it to put it out of its misery. Pain is real in every animal.

Answer 4

It does not matter whether or not they feel pain the same way as we do. If they appear to be suffering we should try to alleviate whatever causes them to suffer.
I know this is not a true answer to your question but it is true that we should never leave any creature suffering while we try to find your answer. I would rather not know than cause undue suffering.

Answer 5

well if u think about it, every human feels pain differently. Some things make some people hurt more while other things make other people hurt more. Pain is just a signal to the brain that something is wrong.

Answer 6

I feel this is somehow related to the last theory being studied by Einstein before his death. Sadly it goes unsolved but we still search for the answer of how does the thermos know to keep its contents cold or hot? Hmmmmmmmm?

Answer 7

i can't prove that they feel pain EXACTLY as humans do, but most animals can feel pain.


When my dog is limping, or somehow injured, i don't have any doubt that he is suffering. It doesn't matter to me if he feels pain "like i do;" i can tell he is feeling pain.